The Rise of India Gin

India has a long history of producing and drinking spirits. However, gin was never really part of the traditional alcoholic beverages consumed in the country. That is steadily changing as a new wave of Indian gin distilleries are crafting unique gin expressions that showcase native botanicals. Let's take a deeper look at the growing India gin scene.

Early Pioneers

Some of the earliest Indian gin producers include Greater Than, Nao Spirits and Stranger & Sons. These brands launched around 5-7 years ago and helped pioneer the revival of craft gin in India.

Greater Than, based out of Bengaluru, was one of the first micro-distilleries in India focused solely on gin. They crafted their signature London Dry-style gin using indigenous botanicals like vetiver, kokum and black pepper. This helped introduce curious Indian drinkers to well-made dry gin.

Nao Spirits started distilling in Goa in 2012. Realizing Goa's climate was perfect for growing a variety of botanicals, Nao aimed to showcase native Indian flavors in their gin. Their Signature Gin features fragrant botanicals like galangal, kokum and ghost pepper.

Stranger & Sons is another early pioneer located in New Delhi. Their Stranger & Co. London Dry Gin showed how classic dry gin could seamlessly blend Indian and European botanicals. Ingredients like grains of paradise, citrus and Indian peppercorns give it complexity and spice.

India Gin Today

Over the past five years, the India gin trend has exploded with several new micro-distilleries entering the market. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Goa have become hubs for craft gin innovation.

In Delhi, firms like Jhaveri Gin and Monkey 47 have ramped up India's gin scene with their contemporary expressions. Meanwhile, Mumbai stalwarts like Bollé Gin and O'Hara's Craft Gin lead gin drinking in India's entertainment capital.

The Rise of Regional Indian Gins

What's most exciting is how regional Indian gins highlight native botanicals from their surroundings. Here are some notable examples:

- Kogye Gin from Bengaluru prides itself on using 40 wild botanicals foraged within a 100km radius of their distillery. Ingredients like wild hibiscus, curry leaf and tulsi impart an herbal character.

- In Delhi, Sonal Gin celebrates a village in Haryana by crafting an expressive dry gin that highlights local botanicals like oranges, vetiver and coriander.

- Up in the Himalayan foothills, JIGMISTIK highlights indigenous aromatics like fern, spikenard and myrish roots to create a complex mountain gin.

- Down south, SNJ Distillery crafts aromatic gins using botanicals native to a 50-acre organic spice estate in Kerala like long pepper, cardamom and star anise.

Craft distilling also lets smaller producers explore unusual native flavors. For instance, Agnes Arannya Gin from Goa is aged in cashew fenny casks to lend a nutty dimension.

Indian Gin Festivals and Awards

As the Indian gin market expands, exciting festivals and awards have emerged to highlight craft producers across the country.

The bi-annual India Cocktail Week shines a spotlight on new innovations from India's bars and distilleries. Top Indian gin producers also exhibit at events like Zirca Festival, Pune Gin Fest and Gin in India to promote indigenous craft spirits.

Prestigious awards like the World Gin Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition have recognized Indian gins for excellence. Brands like Stranger & Sons, Bimbola and O'Hara's have won international acclaim in recent years.

What started as a handful of pioneers is now a thriving gin movement. Indian micro-distilleries are pushing boundaries by crafting exciting new gins that bring native tastes and traditions to the global stage. As consumers increasingly appreciate nuanced local flavors, the future looks bright for India's growing role in the global gin landscape. The best may be yet to come from this vibrant new frontier in Indian craft spirits.

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